“UNOPS plays a critical role in providing management services for our life...

“UNOPS plays a critical role in providing management services for our life-saving, peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations. I have seen many examples of how these activities help suffering people in troubled parts of the world.”
-Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General

UNOPS mission is to expand the capacity of the UN system and its partners to implement peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations that matter for people in need.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, UNOPS vision is to always satisfy partners with management services that meet world-class standards of quality, speed and cost effectiveness.

By assisting UN organizations, international financial institutions, governments and other development partners, UNOPS makes significant, tangible contributions to results on the ground.

UNOPS employs around 3,500 personnel annually and on behalf of its partners creates thousands more work opportunities in local communities. With its headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark, a network of five regional offices and a further 20 operations and project centres, UNOPS oversees activities in more than 80 countries.

The geographic scope of this regional project covers the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, focusing on six Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The Goal of the project is to contribute to sustainable development in the Indian and Atlantic Ocean SIDS through improvements in natural resource and environmental management. The overall Objective is to accelerate progress on WSSD targets and IWRM and WUE plans and water supply and sanitation MDGs for the protection and utilization of groundwater and surface water in the participating countries. This will be based on best practices and demonstrations of IWRM approaches.

The project is consistent with the GEF IV strategic objective for International Waters: ‘to play a catalytic role in addressing trans-boundary water concerns by assisting countries to utilize the full range of technical assistance, economic, financial, regulatory and institutional reforms that are needed’. It will do so through supporting and building on existing political commitments and through promoting sustainable water use and improved water management, making it easier to address the challenges of the future as climatic variability and change affects water resources further. More specifically, the project will deliver outcomes under GEF IV Strategic Programme III (SP-3) through working with communities to address their needs for safe drinking water and other socio-economic benefits of sustainable and safe water resources, including balancing environmental requirements with livelihood needs.

Under the direct supervision of the UNOPS KEOC Deputy Director (DOCD) for manage...

Under the direct supervision of the UNOPS KEOC Deputy Director (DOCD) for managerial and administrative aspects, and with accountability via the DOCD to the UNEP/GEF Task Manager for substantive matters and also secondary supervision by the UNOPS International Water Cluster Senior Portfolio Manager, the Project Manager will be responsible for the overall coordination, implementation, supervision and delivery of the GEF funded IWRM Project. S/he shall liaise directly with the National Project Teams (National Project Managers, National Governance Coordinators and National Assistants), National Steering Committees and the Regional Steering Committee (RSC) and other relevant bodies and stakeholders where relevant. S/he will also liaise with representatives of UNDP/GEF and UNEP/GEF, as well as co-financiers and other regional donors, in order to coordinate the annual work plan for the project.

The Project Manager will also liaise with other project managers and coordinators of related and relevant projects and programmes, and other GEF funded projects, including the Pacific IWRM project and the Caribbean Integrated Watershed and Coastal Area Management (IWCAM) project implemented through various partners. This will include close coordination with the Pacific Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) and the Caribbean Environmental Health Institute (CEHI) responsible for the implementation of these projects and programmes.

S/he shall be responsible for all technical, planning, managerial, monitoring, progress and financial reporting for the project. S/he will provide overall supervision for all staff in the Programme Coordination Unit (PCU). This will include recruitment and performance monitoring.

The Project Manager will consult and coordinate closely with the UNEP DEPI office in Nairobi and the UNDP Resident Representative in Mauritius.

In particular the Project Manager will:

Serve as the Head of the Project Coordination Unit (PCU) located in Nairobi, and manage its staff and budget;

Assume general responsibility for the day-to-day planning, budgeting, management and implementation of all project objectives and activities, ensuring delivery of the work programme and supervising all UNEP/UNDP/GEF related activities pursuant to implementation of the objectives and specific activities of the IWRM Project;

Prepare Terms of Reference for consultants and contractors, oversee their contributions to the project and be ultimately responsible for the delivery of work produced by consultants under the project;

Coordinate and oversee the preparation of the substantive and operational reports for the IWRM Project implementation;

Prepare the annual work plan of the programme, in a format consistent with UNDP and UNEP budgets, work programmes and monitoring and evaluation procedures and Financial Regulations on the basis of the UNEP and UNDP Project Documents, and in close consultation and coordination with the RSC, National IWRM APEX Bodies, National Project Teams, GEF partners and relevant co-financiers;

Act as the Secretary to the RSC during its meetings and those of its sub-committees;

Coordinate and monitor the activities described in the work plan and report to the UN Agencies and the RSC;

Facilitate liaison and networking between and among the six country participants, relevant regional organisations, other relevant organisations, non-governmental organisations, key stakeholders and other individuals involved in project implementation using the knowledge transfer platform where applicable as the coordination vehicle;

Foster and establish links with other related Atlantic and Indian Ocean programmes and projects and, where appropriate, with other regional GEF International Waters projects;

Ensure consistency between the various programme elements and related activities provided or funded by other donor organizations;

Assist in the delivery of training courses on both technical and project management, monitoring and evaluation issues to strengthen regional capacity in this area.

The Project Manager will prepare the Annual Work Plan reflecting project activities and outcomes. In addition, a detailed activity work plan per project component will indicate periods of activity and parties responsible for delivery. The Project Manager will be the registered UNEP Executing Agency signatory for the project and will be accountable to the RSC.

It is desirable that s/he will be a specialist in IWRM governance matters and will lead the technical delivery of all the project components, including:

Providing support for the preparation of technical and feasibility studies and coordinate monitoring and valuation activities, including delivering regular progress and monitoring reports to UNDP/UNEP;

Sourcing additional funding for initiatives started by the project at the local, national and regional level to ensure sustainability of the interventions. This includes working with national governments to assist them in learning from project initiatives and looking for mainstreaming opportunities to ensure replication and sustainability; and

A master’s degree-level education and experience in project management are required.

Desirable education includes, a relevant post-secondary degree, for example, in public or business administration, natural sciences, social sciences, public health, environment, economics, or engineering (or related discipline).

b. Work experience

The selected candidate will have:

At least eleven years of experience in project management with increasing management responsibility in fields related to the assignment;

Previous experience in the operational aspects of large UN-funded projects or similar regional/multi-country projects, as well as experience with funding organizations such as the GEF will be an advantage;

Proven financial management experience of large and complex multi-country budgets;

Experience of aligning project goals with wider development frameworks for long term benefits and understanding of cross-sectoral national planning processes will be highly regarded;

Experience of evaluating technical projects and organisational strategy, policy development and change management, including development of M&E frameworks will be an advantage.

Demonstrable excellent verbal and written communications skills, both at a technical level and in the preparation of information for policy makers and wider civil society

Excellent working knowledge of English.

Familiarity and knowledge of participating Island Countries and Portuguese and / or French would be an advantage

Familiarity with the goals and procedures of international organizations, in particular of the GEF implementing agencies (UNDP, UNEP). Knowledge of GEF co-financing approaches will be a distinct advantage

d. Other essential requirements include:

The ability to manage the work of consultants;

A proven ability to work as part of a dynamic inter-disciplinary and/or multi-cultural team;

The ability to meet project deadlines, often under difficult circumstances;
An ability to travel frequently to and work within Island Communities;

Demonstrated drive for continuous improvement and incorporation of lessons learned and best practices into business process routines;

Demonstration of professional behaviour and personal ethics, transparency and openness to encourage respect and similar behaviour from colleagues in the workplace.

e. Languages

Excellent working knowledge of English. Familiarity and knowledge of participating Island Countries and Portuguese and / or French would be an advantage

DISCLAIMER

The screening of your application will be conducted based on the information in your profile. Before applying, we strongly suggest that you review your UNOPS Jobs profile to ensure completeness, especially the education and experience sections.

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